CVE-2026-45160: CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read in espressif esp-idf
An out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the DHCP server option parser of the Espressif ESP-IDF framework's lwIP component. This flaw affects specific versions where the parser does not properly validate DHCP option lengths, potentially causing reads beyond the buffer into adjacent heap memory. The issue impacts devices running as DHCP servers, such as those using SoftAP. Patched versions have been released to address this vulnerability.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-45160 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options function) within the lwIP component of the Espressif ESP-IDF framework. The parser fails to validate that each DHCP option's length byte and declared payload length remain within the received packet buffer, allowing a crafted DHCP request to cause reads past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory. This affects ESP-IDF versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1. The vulnerability impacts the DHCP server used by ESP-IDF's SoftAP and any configuration where the device acts as a DHCP server on a local network. Fixed versions include 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read on heap memory by sending a crafted DHCP request to a device running a vulnerable ESP-IDF DHCP server. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity with no confidentiality or integrity impact but a high impact on availability. There is no indication of known exploits in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in ESP-IDF versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2. Users should upgrade to these versions or later to remediate this vulnerability. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate otherwise.
CVE-2026-45160: CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read in espressif esp-idf
Description
An out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the DHCP server option parser of the Espressif ESP-IDF framework's lwIP component. This flaw affects specific versions where the parser does not properly validate DHCP option lengths, potentially causing reads beyond the buffer into adjacent heap memory. The issue impacts devices running as DHCP servers, such as those using SoftAP. Patched versions have been released to address this vulnerability.
CVSS v3.1
Score 6.5medium
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-45160 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options function) within the lwIP component of the Espressif ESP-IDF framework. The parser fails to validate that each DHCP option's length byte and declared payload length remain within the received packet buffer, allowing a crafted DHCP request to cause reads past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory. This affects ESP-IDF versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1. The vulnerability impacts the DHCP server used by ESP-IDF's SoftAP and any configuration where the device acts as a DHCP server on a local network. Fixed versions include 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read on heap memory by sending a crafted DHCP request to a device running a vulnerable ESP-IDF DHCP server. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity with no confidentiality or integrity impact but a high impact on availability. There is no indication of known exploits in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in ESP-IDF versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2. Users should upgrade to these versions or later to remediate this vulnerability. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate otherwise.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-08T20:44:38.965Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a28c09e8dd33fbd85c1ae53
Added to database: 6/10/2026, 1:40:46 AM
Last enriched: 6/10/2026, 1:56:25 AM
Last updated: 6/10/2026, 2:54:45 AM
Views: 4
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